5,000 turbines needed to meet targets

Some 5,000 wind turbines will be required in order to meet the UK's renewables targets by 2020, it has been claimed.

The New and Renewable Energy Centre (NaREC) has announced that it is to make the north-east of England a site for developing extra wind power capacity, according to New Energy Focus.

It is thought that the group will be contributing to the government's aim of installing 3,000 wind turbines by 2020.

However, the group estimates that more than this - some 5,000 - will be necessary to attain the government's overall targets set out by the European Union.

Director of technology and innovation at NaREC Dr Keith Melton said: "The pace and efficiency of installation that will be required to meet 2020 targets means that the industry afford to wait for turbines to prove themselves in service."

The government recently published its Renewable Energy Strategy. Among its stipulations is the creation of local renewables targets.